Disposable packaging for a ready-made food product

ABSTRACT

Disposable packaging, comprising a container ( 1 ) that defines a main compartment ( 2 ) and at least an additional compartment ( 3 ). The container ( 1 ) is bowl-shaped and is closed on the upper side by a film, or by a cover, in order to prevent the main food component contained inside the main compartment ( 2 )—from coming out. Moreover, the additional compartment ( 3 ) is closed by a slidable sealing system of the cylinder-piston type. In the closure position of the piston, which is formed by a plug ( 14 ), the food component contained in the additional compartment ( 3 ) cannot mix with the food component located in the main compartment ( 2 ), whereas in the opening position of the plug ( 14 ), the dressing/seasoning may leak from the additional compartment ( 3 ) through lateral apertures of the plug ( 14 ), at the time the user turns over and shakes the packaging.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of food products' packaging,and specifically to a packaging designed to contain food products thatare ready to be eaten or ready for preparation and that consist of twoor more components to be mixed together before use.

For instance, the invention may be used to mix vegetables with theirdressings, pasta with sauces or gravies, bread-crumbs % kith beaten eggs(for the preparation of omelettes), meat or fish with their coverings ofbread-crumbs (for the preparation of fried dishes), and so on.

Therefore, the invention is not only useful for the final user, that is,for the person who will actually eat the food product, but could beemployed in the kitchen of a restaurant, or in the domestic environment,in order to facilitate or speed up the preparation of food products thatprecedes their successive treatment (e.g. frying, cooking inside amicrowave oven, etc.).

BACKGROUND ART

At present, there are known various kinds of packaging for ready-madefood products, that are used both in the domestic and non-domesticenvironment. These kinds of packaging include a plastic-made container(receptacle) which is open uppwardly—like a bowl—, and which iscompletely wrapped by a sealing film of cellophane or the like.

The container has at least one compartment for a first food component tobe seasoned, and at least a second compartment for small bags (sachets)containing a sauce or the like.

The user that has removed the external seating film (or possibly anupper cover of the container) opens one or more sachets available tohim, after taking them from the respective compartment, and then pourstheir content in the compartment that contains the food product to beseasoned.

A drawback of such a packaging for food is that it is very easy toinadvertently pour the content of the small bags on one's clothes or onother objects, and therefore this operation is not very convenient andhygienic to carry out. Moreover, since the food to be seasoned usuallyoccupies (due to space optimisation) the whole volume of its respectivecompartment (forming the greatest part of the volume of the packaging),the operation of seasoning the food product (e.g. salad) is verydifficult, if not impossible to carry out, if one wants to avoid to pour(spread) the food product out of the already opened packaging.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a packagingfor food, that allows to mix the various components of the food in ahygienic and efficient way.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The above objects are attained according to independent claim 1, bymeans of a disposable packaging for food products, comprising:

-   -   an upwardly open container;    -   an upper closure member of the container;    -   a compartment of the container, for a first food component;    -   and at least one additional compartment that is integrally        formed with the container or rigidly fixed thereto in a        non-removable way for an additional component of the food        product to be mixed with the first component, characterised in        that:    -   said additional compartment, which is initially sealed, has        movable members that may be actuated by the user from the        container's outside, and that realise a communication path        between the said compartment and the additional compartment,        thereby allowing to mix the component of the food product        contained in said compartment, with the additional component of        the food product that comes from the additional compartment.

In a second embodiment, according to independent claim 13, the aboveobjects are attained by a combination between a disposable packaging fora first component of the food product, and a separate and sealedcontainer for a second component of the food product, said combinationbeing characterised in that:

-   the packaging comprises a container with an upper closure member and    a lower closure member, a compartment for a first component of the    food product in which said components are to be mixed together, and    a coupling hole for the connection to said sealed container; and the    initially sealed container has movable piston-like members that are    actuated by the user and realise a communication path between said    compartment, and an additional compartment defined by the separate    sealed container itself, after the removal of the lower closure    member, after the mechanical coupling of the separate sealed    container to the coupling hole, and lastly, after the actuation of    said movable members.

The first embodiment of the invention, defined in claim 1, comprises twodistinct variants.

In the first variant (claim 3), the movable members that are actuated(by the user) from outside the container, have the shape of a movableplug and therefore they constitute movable piston-like (plunger-like)members that realise a communication path between the compartment of thefirst food component, and the additional compartment of the second foodcomponent.

In the second variant (claim 6), the movable members are designed tobreak the sealing means of the additional compartment, and they form—forinstance—a push rod or pointed rod having an oblique upper end, designedto break a sealing plastic/aluminium film of the additional compartment.

The pointed rod or push rod is preferably integrally formed with thecontainer during the plastic moulding process.

Preferably, the push rod will have longitudinal channels in order tofacilitate the leaking of the sauce, dressing, or the like, from theadditional compartment.

The advantages of the present invention will result from the detaileddescription of its preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention and its specific advantages will be described forpurely illustrative and non-limitative purposes, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of the invention, according to the firstvariant of the first embodiment, without the upper sealing film orcover, and with the plug in the opening position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, the plug being in the closureposition;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the invention shown in FIG. 1 andFIG. 2, without the plug;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are vertical sectional views of the invention,according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view of a detail of the central portion of the container ofFIG. 3, with the plug in the closing position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, the plug being in the openingposition;

FIG. 7 is an axonometric view of the lower side of the packaging of FIG.1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional axonometric view of the packaging, according tothe second variant of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a vertical section of the packaging shownin FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view in vertical section, analogous to FIG. 9, inwhich, however, the additional compartment is located centrally in thepackaging instead of laterally;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view—enlarged with respect to FIGS. 9and 10—of the additional compartment containing the dressing or thelike;

FIG. 12 is a view analogous to FIG. 11, showing the use of the push rodfor breaking and tearing the sealing film, according to the secondvariant of the first embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The first variant of the first embodiment and the second embodiment willbe described first, referring to FIGS. 1-7.

Then, we will describe the second variant of the first embodiment, withreference to FIGS. 8-12. This procedure is dictated by the similaritybetween the first variant and the second embodiment of the invention.

In all figures the same reference number is used for an identicalcomponent of the packaging, so that the invention may be more readilyunderstood.

The packaging essentially comprises a container 1 which for instance isobtained from a moulding process of plastics.

The configuration of the container 1 is such as to give rise to twoseparate compartments, denoted by 2 and 3 respectively. The compartment3 is centrally located and has a cylindrical shape, while the greatercompartment 2, that surrounds the compartment 3, has a substantiallyprismatic and polygonal shape with several congruent faces. Obviously,these shapes of the compartments are not limitative, and the same holdsfor the position of the compartment 3, although for a more uniformdistribution of the food product component contained in the compartment3 towards the inside of the compartment 2, containing the othercomponent of the food product, the preferred position is the illustratedone.

The container 1 is formed by:

-   -   an upper flange 4, on which a sealing film is applied (not        shown), e.g. by heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, adhesives, or        any other possible sealing method suited to close the open upper        part of the container 1;    -   a side wall 5 with facets (or faces) having a polygonal        horizontal section, the side wall terminating at its lower end        in an annular projection 6—also visible in FIG. 7—;    -   an annular lower planar surface 7—formed on said projection 6—,        to which a second sealing film is applied (not shown) by any        known sealing method;    -   a base wall 8, extending from the internal upper end of the        annular projection 6, to a cylindrical wall 11 (11″ in FIG. 4        a);    -   a movable base 13 (13′ in FIG. 4 a) used to actuate a plug 14,        this movable base being connected by means of a hinge 15 (15′ in        FIG. 4 a) (of reduced thickness), to the cylindrical wall 11 (or        11′) of the compartment 3, in order to reach a convex form when        the plug 14 is made to slide inside the “boring” formed by the        cylindrical wall 9 (or 9′).

Moreover, some pieces of cutlery (e.g. of plastics) or other fittings(e.g. napkins), or additives of the food product, may be received in theannular recess 10 and are retained from below by said film (not shown)which is applied on the planar annular surface of the annular projection6 (FIG. 7).

While the preceding considerations apply to both the second embodimentand the first variant of the first embodiment of the invention, in whatfollows we will first describe in detail the first variant of the firstembodiment.

In this first variant the container 1 is integrally formed (e.g. ofmoulded plastics). However, the plug 14 forms a separate piece (e.g. ofplastics).

It must be stressed that the plug 14 has been omitted for clarity inFIG. 3, to simplify the drawing, since it is shown in any case in thedetailed views of FIGS. 5 and 6. Actually, when the packaging ispurchased by the user, it includes the plug 14 (in the closure positionillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5), the film applied on the upper side, thatis on the upper annular flange 4 (or possibly a removable cover which isalso omitted in the drawings), and the film applied on the lower side,that is on the annular planar surface 7 of the projection 6.

To better understand the structure and operation (use modalities) of thepackaging according to the present invention, reference will now be madein particular to the FIGS. 5 and 6.

The latter figures are representations in vertical section, limited tothe central portion of the container 1, and in particular they show thecylindrical wall 9 of the compartment 3 which contains the sauce ordressing, the lower extension 11 of this cylindrical wall, the circularhinge 15, and part of the base wall 8. Moreover, the plug 14 is inserted(in the initial rest position of FIG. 5), inside the compartment 3, andis in sliding engagement with the inner side of the vertical cylindricalwall 9 of this compartment 3.

The movable base 13 for the actuation of the plug 14 includes centrallya cylindrical rib, or annular cylindrical portion 16, that is integrallyformed on the movable base 13. Said circular rib 16 receives (e.g. bypress-fitting) the lower portion of an axial stem 17 of the plug 14.Moreover, the plug 14 has two circular peripheral grooves 19 a and 19 b,which are parallel to each other, and the upper end of the cylindricalwall 9 has a (inwardly directed) circular bead or ridge 20 complementaryto the shape of the grooves 19 a and 19 b, adapted to engage with theupper groove 19 a in the closing position of the plug 14 (FIG. 5), andwith the lower groove 19 b in the opening position of the plug 14 (FIG.6).

The exact configuration of the plug 14 may be inferred—besides fromFIGS. 5 and 6—also form FIG. 1. The plug 14 includes a portion shapedlike a flanged disc 21, whose circular flange 18 abuts on the upper endof the cylindrical vertical wall 9, in the closure position of the plug14 (FIG. 5); the plug 14 also includes vertical elements 22, shaped assmall rods and extending downwards in a direction perpendicular to theplane of the flanged disc 21, said vertical elements being integral withthe latter. The vertical small rods 22 terminate at their lower end in acylindrical ring 23. The plug 14 is able to slide, by means of theexternal surfaces of its portions 22 and 23, along the inner side of thecylindrical vertical wall 9. Moreover, it may be noted that the variousvertical small rods 22 of the plug 14, are arranged at equal anglesalong the periphery of the flanged disc 21 that forms the upper part ofthe plug 14. Thus, the small rods 22 delimit “windows” of equaldimensions, that are clearly visible in FIG. 1, and which allow theleaking of the sauce or dressing from the compartment 3, when the plug14 is in the opening position (FIGS. 1 and 6). In FIG. 1 the small rods22 are at 90° with respect to each other.

First of all, the user of the packaging shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and 5 to7, removes the lower film, and then, he/she pushes inwardly the movablebase 13 towards the inside of the packaging. The movable base lifts theplug 14 by means of the axial stem 17, and at the same time it lifts thesauce or dressing contained in the compartment 3 immediately above themovable base 13. During this operation, the circular ridge 20—thatrealised a seal in the rest position of the plug 14 (see FIG. 5) therebypreventing the leaking of the sauce or dressing to the compartment2—disengages from the upper circular groove 19 a. In the upper position,or end-of-stroke position, of the plug 14, the circular ridge 20 engagesthe second (lower) circular groove 19 b of the plug 14, therebyrealising again a sealing, so that the sauce etc. can flow only throughthe windows defined between the vertical small rods 22. In the positionshown in FIG. 6, of the plug 14, the movable base 13 will have anupwardly convex configuration.

In the preceding description it is assumed that the words “upper” and“lower”, and “upwards” or “downwards”, refer to the orientation of thepackaging (and therefore of the container 1), that is shown for examplein FIGS. 1 and 2.

Without removing the cover (or the upper film), the user turns over thepackaging in order to allow the complete downflow of the sauce, ordressing, or bread-crumbs, etc. through the “windows” or aperturesformed between the small rods 22. Then, the user shakes the packaging inorder to perfectly and uniformly dress a salad, for instance.

At that time, if the food product (e.g. a salad) can be immediatelyeaten, the user simply removes the upper sealing film or an upper cover,and can directly use the compartment 2 as a bowl.

On the other hand, in case of a food product that must be fried, theuser (in this case a cook) must tear the upper film and pour the contentin a frying-pan or the like. However, in case of a microwave oven, itwill be possible to directly employ the container 1 as a cookingcontainer.

Therefore, it can be seen that the objects of the invention are fullyattained. Particularly, it will be impossible to pour the seasoning outof the container 1, since the upper film will not be removed, exceptwhen the seasoning operation is completed. Moreover, the sachets (smallbags) of the prior art are totally superfluous, and the space inside thecompartment 2 may be better used.

Now, we will describe a second embodiment of the packaging, referring toFIGS. 1, 2, 4 a, 4 b and 7.

In the second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, the compartment 3is formed by a separate container 24 (or “cartridge”), that can beinserted, that is, press-fitted, in a central hole of the container 1,having an inner diameter substantially equal to the external diameter ofthe separate container 24. The separate container, indicated by a denserhatching, has a cylindrical wall 9′ with a downward extension 11′, andmay be inserted inside a sleeve 11″ of the container 1. From the detailsof FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, it can be seen that the downward projection 11′ isflanged at its lower end, and moreover it has an annular projection(ridge) acting as a retainer, in order to mutually lock the respectiveparts. Obviously, the flange acts as a stop, in order to stop the strokeof the separate container 24 towards the inside of the container 1. Theplug 14 is located (in the initial rest position shown in FIGS. 4 a and4 b) inside the cartridge 24, and is in sliding contact with thecylindrical vertical wall 9′ of the compartment 3.

The movable base 13′ for the actuation of the plug 14 has centrally acylindrical rib, or cylindrical annular portion 16′, which is integrallyformed on the movable base 13′ of the cartridge. Said circular rib 16′receives (e.g. by press-fitting) the lower portion of an axial stem 17′of the plug 14. Moreover, the plug has two peripheral circular grooves19 a′ and 19 b′, that are parallel to each other, while the upper end ofthe cylindrical wall 9′ has a (inwardly directed) ridge 20′, having acomplementary shape with respect to the shape of the grooves 19 a′ and19 b′, and adapted to fit inside the upper groove 19 a′, in the closingposition of the plug 14 (FIGS. 4 a and 4 b), and with the lower groove19 b′ in the opening position of the plug 14 (shown in FIG. 2).

The exact configuration of the plug 14 may be inferred, besides fromFIGS. 4 a and 4 b, also from FIG. 1. The plug 14 comprises a portionhaving the shape of a flanged disc 21′, whose circular flange 18′ abutson the upper end of the vertical cylindrical wall 9′ of the cartridge orseparate container 24, in the closure position of the plug 14 (see FIGS.4 a and 4 b); the plug 14 also has vertical elements 22′, in the form ofsmall rods, extending downwards in orthogonal direction to the plane ofthe flanged disc 21′, and being integral to the latter. The smallvertical rods 22′ terminate at their lower ends in a cylindrical ring23′. The plug 14 can slide, by means of the external surfaces of itsportions 22′ and 23′, along the inner side of the vertical cylindricalwall 9′ of the separate container 24.

Moreover, it can be noted that the various vertical rods 22′ of the plug14 are arranged at equal angles along the periphery of the flanged disc21′ that forms the upper part of the plug 14. Thus, the small rods 22′form “windows” of equal dimensions, which are clearly visible in FIG. 1,and which allow the leaking of the seasoning/dressing, etc., from thecompartment 3, when the plug 14 is in the opening position (FIG. 1).

According to this solution, the final user can freely choose theseasoning/dressing he/she prefers, by independently purchasing aseparate container 24 sealed by the respective plug 14, and containingthe desired type of seasoning, dressing or the like. Then, after havingturned over the packaging, he/she removes the lower sealing film andinserts the separate container 24 (sealed by the respective plug 14)inside the hole of the container 1, defined by the cylindrical sleeve11″. Then, the user simply has to push the movable base 13′ inwardly, tothe inside of the container 1, and shake the packaging.

Also in this latter solution, the seasoning or the like cannot leak outof the packaging, since the upper sealing film (or the cover) is removedin the last step, that is at the end of the operation.

The invention has been described only for illustrative purposes withreference to its preferred embodiments. It goes without saying thatvarious modifications may be conceived by a skilled person, within thesame scope of protection.

For example, the number of compartments 3 is not limited to a singlecompartment, and if desired, more compartments could be provided if forthe preparation of the food product it is necessary to mix together morethan two components that must maintained in a separate state up to thepreparation time.

Now, the second variant of the first embodiment will be described.

The two variants of the first embodiment are similar in that thecompartment 3 does not form a separate element (in contrast with thecartridge 24 of the second embodiment, that can be inserted in thecontainer 1), but is connected to the container in a non-removablemanner.

With reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, the packaging of the present inventionessentially comprises a single container 1 a, which for instance ismanufactured using a plastics moulding process. The configuration of thecontainer 1 a is such as to give rise to two different compartments,indicated by the numerals 2 a and 3 a respectively. The firstcompartment 2 a, which has a greater size than the second compartment 3a, contains the ready-made food product (schematically indicated by ahatching in FIG. 8), while the second compartment 3 a is used tointroduce therein the seasoning, dressing, or the like (which is alsoschematically shown by a hatching in FIG. 8). Thus, the container 1 aforms a small bowl or small basin, of cylindrical external shape, andhaving inside it a second cylindrical body, which gives rise to thecompartment 3 a for the dressing, seasoning, or the like.

It should be noted that the container 1 a is formed by a thin wall ofplastics, that has been adequately shaped in the moulding process, saidthin wall being horizontal at the base 8 a of the container 1 a, andvertical at the cylindrical external wall 5 a and at the cylindricalwall 9 a of the inner dressing's compartment 3 a.

The thin cylindrical wall 9 a extends upwards only for a reduced heightas compared with the external cylindrical wall 5 a, and then it extendsdownwards so as to form a kind of “well”; the latter gives rise to thecompartment 3 a that contains the dressing, or seasoning, orbread-crumbs, etc. Centrally, the compartment 3 a has a push rod orpointed rod 14 a, which internally is hollow, and is formed again bysaid thin wall of plastic moulding material. Thus, the container 1 a isreally formed of a single moulded piece of plastics, consisting of athin wall having the described configuration.

The push rod 14 a therefore forms an element having a shape like afrustum of a cone, which is internally hollow (see blind hole 14 b), andwhich is itself formed by said continuous thin wall. Due to the presenceof the push rod 14 a, the seasoning will occupy—inside the compartment 3a—, an annular substantially cylindrical region, as may be clearly seenin FIG. 8. The base 13 a of the seasoning compartment 3 a, having abulged shape, is located at a level higher than the base 8 a of thecompartment 2 a of the ready-made food product, as indicated by thedouble arrow F. The reason for this will be explained further below.

Even in this second variant the seasoning or the like is storedseparately from the ready-made food product, since a sealing film 14 cis provided at the upper side of the compartment 3 a and is appliedlaterally—on the circular step 20 a—. Moreover, the container 1 a issealed at its upper end by a film A, or by a removable cover made ofplastics or the like, that temporarily hermetically closes the container1 a.

The only difference between FIGS. 8 and 9, on the one hand, and FIG. 10on the other hand, concerns the position of the compartment 3 a for theseasoning; in FIGS. 8 and 9 this compartment 3 a is located laterally,while in the version shown in FIG. 10 it is located centrally withrespect to the base 8 a of the container.

Also in this case the object of the invention can be immediatelyrecognised by the following description of its use.

When the packaging is still sealed, that is before removing the sealingfilm A from the upper part of the container 1 a, the user presses withhis/her hand on the bottom 13 a of the seasoning's compartment 3 a, soas to deform the thin wall of the container at the location of thisinner compartment 3 a, as shown in FIG. 12. Consequently, the push rod14 a will be lifted and will eventually pierce the closing film 14 c ofthe inner compartment 3 a. Without relieving this pressure, the userslowly turns over the packaging, in order to allow the complete downflowof the seasoning or dressing towards the inside of the compartment 2 athat contains the food products to be dressed (salad, other vegetables,etc.). Then, the user will simply have to shake the packaging to obtaina perfectly and uniformly dressed salad. At the end of this operation,the external film A (shown clearly in FIG. 8) will be detached. From theabove description, it follows that in order to prevent an accidentalpiercing of the film 14 c that seals the compartment 3 a for theseasoning/dressing, during packing, transport and selling operations, itis necessary to provide a safety space (denoted by the double arrow F),that has already been mentioned without however clarifying its function.

For completeness, and referring again to FIGS. 11 and 12, it should benoted that according to practical tests it results that the downflow ofthe seasoning/dressing from the compartment 3 a is facilitated by thepresence of small channels on the lateral surface of the push rod 14 aused for piercing the closure film 14 c. Thus, the lateral wall of thepush rod 14 a is recessed (“milled”) on diametrically opposite sides ofthe push rod, in such a way as to give rise to respective longitudinalchannels, of half-cylindrical shape, which extend each as far as theupper end of the push rod 14 a; this end is slanted in order tofacilitate piercing of the film 14 c.

In FIG. 11, the arrow P denotes the path of the air (directed towardsthe inside of the compartment 3 a) after piercing of the film 14 c (seeFIG. 12), whereas the arrow Q denotes the path of the seasoning/dressingor the like, that flows out of the compartment 3 a and reaches theadjacent compartment 2 a.

The advantages of the present invention are obvious to the skilledperson. In fact, the packaging must be opened only shortly before thefood product is eaten, and the system guarantees a perfect dressing.

Although the invention has been extensively described with regard to twodistinct—but specific—embodiments thereof, a skilled person may easilyimagine several constructive modifications without thereby arriving atresults out of the scope of protection conferred by this document.

The structure of the packaging may also be more complex. The containercould—for instance—comprise a sealing and removable cover in lieu of thefilm A, and/or a sliding push rod 14 a which slides with respect to thebase 13 of the compartment 3 a. All these modifications are obviouslywithin the reach of the ordinary skilled person that has takencognisance of the solutions proposed herein, and for this reason theyare to be considered included in the present invention.

1. A disposable packaging for food products, comprising an upwardly opencontainer (1; 1 a), an upper closure element (A) of the container (1; 1a), a compartment (2; 2 a) of the container (1; 1 a) for a firstcomponent of the food product, and at least an additional compartment(3; 3 a) that is realised integrally with the container (1; 1 a) or isrigidly fixed thereto in a non-removable manner, and which is used foran additional component of the food product to be mixed to said firstcomponent, characterised in that said additional compartment (3; 3 a),which is initially sealed, has movable members (13, 14; 13 a, 14 a) thatmay be actuated by the user from outside the container (1; 1 a) andwhich realise a communication path between the compartment (2; 2 a) andsaid additional compartment (3; 3 a), thereby allowing to mix the firstcomponent of food product, located inside the compartment (2, 2 a), tothe additional component of food product coming from the additionalcompartment (3; 3 a):
 2. A disposable packaging according to claim 1,wherein said upper closure member (A) is a film, for instance of plasticmaterial.
 3. A disposable packaging according to claim 1 or 2, whereinsaid movable members are formed by a base (13) of said additionalcompartment (3), that is connected by means of a hinge (15) to the walls(9) of the compartment (3), and said base (13) is movable between afirst- or rest-position, and a second position, and during thedisplacement to the second position it acts on a movable plug (14) whichslides along the walls of said additional compartment (3); said plug(14) having lateral apertures which give rise to said communicationbetween the compartment (2) and the additional compartment (3), in saidsecond position of the movable base (13).
 4. A disposable packagingaccording to claim 3, wherein said movable plug (14) is connected tosaid movable base (13) through an axial stem (17).
 5. A disposablepackaging according to claim 4, wherein, in said two positions of themovable base (13) and plug (14), a coupling of the kind “circulargroove/circular ridge” (19 a, 19 b; 20) realises a sealing between theplug (14) and the wall (9) of the additional compartment (3).
 6. Adisposable packaging for food products, according to claim 1 or 2,including a container (1 a) and an upper closure member (A) of thecontainer (1 a), said container (1 a) having a compartment (2 a) for afirst component of the food product, and at least an additionalcompartment (3 a) for the additional component of the food product, andsaid additional compartment (3 a) being provided with a push rod orpointed rod (14 a) that may be actuated by the user from outside thepackaging, and which is used to break sealing means (14 c) of thecompartment (3 a), in such a way as to realise a communication pathtowards the compartment (2 a), thereby allowing to mix the firstcomponent of the food product, to the second component of the foodproduct, without being forced to open first the upper closure element(A) of the container (1 a).
 7. A disposable packaging according to claim6, wherein said container (1 a) is integrally formed.
 8. A disposablepackaging according to claim 7, wherein said container (1 a) is realisedwith a moulding process of plastic material and is formed of a thin wallof said material.
 9. A disposable packaging according to claim 6,wherein said push rod (14 a) has a slanted upper end.
 10. A disposablepackaging according to claim 9, wherein the lateral surface of the pushrod (14 a) includes channels for the passage of air to the inside of theadditional compartment (3 a), and channels for the passage of theadditional component of the food product towards the outside of saidadditional compartment (3 a).
 11. A disposable packaging according toanyone of the preceding claims 6-10, wherein the base (13 a) of thesecond compartment (3 a) is spaced apart form the base (8 a) of saidcontainer (1 a).
 12. A disposable packaging according to claim 6,wherein the sealing means (14 c) of the compartment (3 a), are formed bya film of aluminium and/or plastics.
 13. A combination between adisposable packaging for a first component of a food product, and aseparate and sealed container (24) for a second component of the foodproduct, said combination being characterised in that: the packagingcomprises a container (1) with an upper closure element and a lowerclosure element, a compartment (2) for the first component of the foodproduct in which said components are to be mixed together, and acoupling hole (11″) for the connection to said sealed separate container(24); the initially sealed container (24) has movable piston-likemembers (13′, 14) that are actuated by the user and realise acommunication path between said compartment (2), and an additionalcompartment (3) defied by the separate sealed container (24) itself,after the removal of the lower closure element, after the mechanicalcoupling of the separate sealed container (24) to the coupling hole(11″), and lastly, after the actuation of said movable members (13′,14).
 14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein said upper andlower closure elements are formed by a film, for instance of plasticmaterial, and the lower film closes said coupling hole (11″).
 15. Acombination according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said movable membersare formed by a base (13′) of said additional compartment (3), connectedby a hinge (15′) to the walls (9′) of the compartment (3), and whereinsaid base (13′) is movable between a first- or rest-position, and asecond position, and during the displacement to the second position thebase acts on a movable plug (14) that slides along the walls of saidadditional compartment (3); the said plug (14) having lateral apertureswhich give rise to said communication path between the compartment (2)and the additional compartment (3), in said second position of themovable base (13′).
 16. A combination according to claim 15, whereinsaid movable plug (14) is connected to said movable base (13′) throughan axial stem (17′).
 17. A combination according to claim 16, wherein,in said two positions of the movable base (13′) and of the plug (14), acoupling formed by a circular groove/circular ridge (19 a′, 19 b′; 20′)realises a sealing between the plug (14) and the wall (9′) of theadditional compartment (3).
 18. A combination according to anyone of theclaims 13 to 17, wherein said container (1) is integrally formed,preferably of plastic material.
 19. A combination according to claim 13,wherein the separate container (24) is retained in a coaxial positioninside the hole (11″) of the container (1), by the friction force andthe radial pressure which is exerted by its walls (11′) on a sleeve(11″) which surrounds said hole (11″) and is integrally formed with saidcontainer (1).
 20. A combination according to anyone of the claims 13 to19, wherein the lower part of the container (1) presents a recess (10)in order to receive pieces of cutlery or other fittings, e.g. napkins orfood additives, and is provided of a lower closure film, for instance ofplastic material.
 21. A combination according to claim 19, wherein thelower extension of the walls (11′) of the separate container (24)comprises a flange acting as a stop, in order to stop the stroke of theseparate container (24) during its insertion inside the container (1),and wherein the sealing between the container (1) and the separatecontainer (24) is obtained by the coupling between an annular ridge andan circular groove.